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One of the co-founders behind the well-known ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has stated how parent company Unilever blocked the launch for an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the company with his partner, announced how he plans to personally create this new product as part of a personal collection highlighting issues the company has been barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Between Founders versus Parent Company

This latest development intensifies the ongoing tension among the internationally recognized ice cream maker and Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods giant that has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders have asserted how Unilever and their ice cream division the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked their company against "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Flavor becoming a Symbol of Solidarity

The entrepreneur revealed through an Instagram video that he's developing a new watermelon-based sorbet, requesting public suggestions for naming options plus potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen stated from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has become an emblem of support for the Palestinian people due to its colors, which closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Social Engagement and Recent Changes

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever selling their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming product line is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company that originally established several years back to support former political contender Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes and Upcoming Plans

The founder revealed how he plans to develop additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues that the company was silenced from speaking about openly due to Unilever.

This development follows partner Mr. Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's recently, after many years with the organization, citing worries that the company's autonomy had been compromised after corporate moves to curb its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen commented that "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart leads me to keep working within the organization to advocate for its independence so that the company can achieve the social mission, the principles that it was founded on while upholding for over 40 years," he told journalists.

• Parent company restrictions on political advocacy
• Independent flavor creation by company founders
• The fruit-based product as political symbol
• Continuing tensions among corporate ownership versus ethical values